Happy 5th Birthday Ryan!!!!!

Ryan turned 5 today!  We let him have a "Ryan day" today (within reason!)  He played games on the tablet, watched some movies, helped make his checkerboard cake, played baseball, rode his bike, and slept in Hunter's teepee for nap time.  We decorated for his party while he slept and made him hotdogs, sweet potato fries, and mixed veggies (at his request).  He had also requested mac-n-cheese for breakfast, but we had to say no to that one!!!!  lol 

Used Pinterest again for the pix

Party Theme:  Star Wars and otters of course!

Keep calm and love otters

His seat :)

Praying otter!!!!

Checkerboard cake is what he picked

Disaster 2 1/2 minutes into the party!  Good thing we take pre-party pix!

My mom made him an otter book!!!!  Too cute!

So we sing happy birthday, but when it comes time to blow out the candle, he can't because he has his mouth full of food, as you can plainly see, but Hunter is opportunistic and so he did it for him!!   Ry got mad and we had to do a do over candle lighting so he could blow it out, too!  lol  

And I will end this with something I am having to repeat over and over in my head....it's not about me, it's about God!  

On the Campaign Trail......

 which was right down the road :)  We were able to stand at the voting polls from 10-2 today to support Zach Bates, who is running for Mayor of Anderson County.  It was a delight to support him and we had a lot of fun!  Early voting is right now and election day for the primaries is May 6th!  We were blessed and encouraged with a surprise visit from the Bates family and it was nice to see them and fellowship.  A few of them stuck around to finish up the day and we came on home for naps and dinner!  VOTE FOR ZACH!  :) 

Setting up

It threatened bad weather and sprinkled a bit, but God kept it mostly dry and even gave us some sunshine!

Working hard!

I've got such a goofy face, but it was soooo bright!!!!  

Smiling and waving! :)

Nathan Bates, Sean, Ryan

Long day!!! :0)  Isaiah Bates

Life :)

Happy 2 Months Lil Miss!!!!

We just can't get enough of her smiles and coos!!!  We could look at them all day long!!!  She is such a joy and a blessing!!!!  Today, we were so grateful to The Warrens for watching our 3 boys while Sean, Hailey, and I went on a date day.  We had gift cards to Chili's and to Babies R Us.  We enjoyed our time out and of course it's always fun to go shopping!!!  :0)

He ALWAYS cares

We are running a little low on money and were discussing the matter when I felt the need to go check the mailbox; feeling like we might have money in there.  Well, WE DID! God is sooooo good!  And so is my Dad!!!  Any way, wanted to share a praise report!  Have a good afternoon!  We had a blast buying clothes at the consignment sale for 6 people (including maternity clothes for me- no, not pregnant, just for the next one, Lord willing).  AND it was a lot of fun venturing over to baby GIRL stuff to do some shopping!  :) Ryan also used his own money that he earned to buy himself a toy and one for Hunter, too! I think if we had went out and bought all of these clothes and shoes and toys and a printer new, it would have probably been close to a couple of thousand dollars- doing it by consignment, under $300!!!  :)   :)  OK, BYE!

For anyone living in our area......

Temple Baptist Academy       Spring/Summer 2014 Children’s Consignment Sale and Craft Sale

Open to the public on:

NEW DATES!!!

Thursday, April 24 - 9:00-8:00
   Friday, April 25 - 9:00-6:00
 Saturday, April 26 - 9:00-12:00 Noon (1/2 off day)

on the Crown College Campus
2307 Beaver Creek Drive
Powell, TN  37849

Directions
http://thecrowncollege.com/directions/

To sign up on our mailing list- click here

http://www.myconsignmentmanager.com/tbaconsignment

To find out more, see pics from last sale or like our sale on Face Book....click the link below.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/TBA-Consignment-Sale/342084892470365

Easter 2014

 4 baskets!  A certain pink one is quite larger than the rest!  :)

Egg hunting time!  We were unable to go to church on Resurrection Day because Andrew had thrown up once Wednesday night and once Friday afternoon so we didn't want to share potential sick germs.  Everyone else has been doing well, which we are so grateful to the Lord for that!  Andrew seems to be back to normal, too!

I spy a tiger egg!  Courtney and Kyle (my sibling in laws) were so sweet to send us 40 plastic eggs filled with candy, gummies, and stickers for the boys!  

Found one!

My mom sent Hailey bug ears!!!!

We took the family to this really pretty park out in the middle of nowhere, which is down the road from us!

We had a very blessed day!  We also hid Easter baskets that my MIL and FIL sent and gave them sweet gifts that my mom sent.  We read the resurrection story and cooked out steaks.  We made Death by Chocolate and hand delivered some to a couple of my coworkers.  We ended up at a second playground in Knoxville after that.  We watched Easter Veggie Tales.  We enjoyed our day together.  We took time to remember how truly important Easter Sunday is.  Because He is risen, we know we will have eternal life if we believe in Him.  We always try to teach the children what it's all about and that the other things are just fun celebrations of what is truly important.  The most important day of the year, that and Christmas.
John 6:40 - And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.